Chapter 777 - 268: Jie Jingsi, Will You Regret It?

Mrs. Xie shot him a glance and said without the slightest hesitation, "My parents are getting on in years, and Jing Qi is still young. If Jing Wu doesn’t go to Xiangjiang, then Jing Si and his wife have to stay in Xiangjiang."

Jie Jingwei ground his teeth, an endless hatred welling up inside him. Jing Wu didn’t work at the machinery factory, so there had never been a conflict of interest between the brothers. But Jing Si did. Now that Jing Si was back, Jie Jingwei felt immense pressure. Although their father had promised him the factory manager position, it was still up in theair who would ultimately get the job.

’Why did Jing Si have to come back?’

Qin Mei was also startled. She glanced sideways at Jie Jingchen beside her. ’So, they were only able to come back because Jing Wu was "sacrificed."’

’Bah! What "sacrifice"? It’s not that dramatic. Xiangjiang is a great place. Jing Wu is going there to live like a young master, the center of all attention. Thinking of it that way, the little bit of guilt I felt instantly vanished.’

"Jie Jingsi, will you regret this?" Qin Mei’s voice was barely audible.

Besides Jie Jingchen, no one else present heard what she said.

"No regrets." Jie Jingchen squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with unwavering devotion as he gazed at her.

Qin Mei gazed at him. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t moved, but she said aloud, "Giving up an empire for a beauty—do you really have no regrets?"

Jie Jingchen smiled without a word, his gaze resolute. If this weren’t the wrong time and place, he would have kissed her fiercely to show her the depth of his feelings.

A wide smile spread across Qin Mei’s delicate features. ’Perhaps this man before me is worthy of my heart.’

Mr. Xie’s brow furrowed in thought, his tone tinged with accusation. "Why didn’t you discuss this with me?"

"It was a last-minute decision," Mrs. Xie said. Even she felt the excuse sounded flimsy, but it was the truth. When she got the call from Jing Si, he didn’t say much—just that Jing Wu needed to get ready immediately. He and Xiao Mei were coming back, and Jing Wu was going to Xiangjiang.

Forget discussing it with him; even Jing Wu was railroaded into it.

Mr. Xie’s face turned ashen, and a flicker of hurt crossed his dazed eyes. "Why didn’t you say a single word about it afterward?"

"I forgot." Mrs. Xie tossed out the two words lightly.

Mr. Xie felt utterly defeated. He felt disrespected in his own family. He’d been powerless regarding the decision for Jing Qi to stay behind, and now with Jing Wu going to Xiangjiang, he wasn’t even worthy of being informed.

When Jing Si and his wife returned from Xiangjiang, he thought they had rushed back because they remembered Mrs. Xie’s birthday. He had been overjoyed at the thought.

A deep sense of unease washed over Mr. Xie. Both Jing Qi and Jing Wu were in Xiangjiang now. If, one day, Jing Si and his wife... and his own wife...

Mr. Xie didn’t dare to let his thoughts continue. It would be one thing for his sons and daughters to leave him, but if his wife left, he would surely go mad.

Jie Jinghun arrived with his wife and daughter. Xiao Duo was wearing a beautiful little dress that Qin Mei had bought for her in Xiangjiang. In fact, most of the contents of Qin Mei’s large bag were gifts for Xiao Duo.

"Fourth Auntie!" The moment Xiao Duo saw Qin Mei, she began to squirm in Jie Jinghun’s arms.

Jie Jingchen bent down and set Xiao Duo on the floor. The little girl immediately squealed with delight and ran toward Qin Mei.

Qin Mei opened her arms, waiting for the little girl to throw herself into her embrace.

But the little girl suddenly stopped and did a twirl in front of Qin Mei. "Fourth Auntie, is it pretty?"

"Sweetheart, it’s beautiful. You look like a little princess," Qin Mei praised her generously.

"Thank you, Fourth Auntie," the little girl said.

"Little sweetheart, do you like the gift your Fourth Auntie got for you?" Qin Mei asked, pinching the little girl’s chubby cheek. ’The Shen Family has raised Xiao Duo so well,’ she thought. ’Not too fat, not too thin, with such fair, delicate skin. So adorable.’

"I love all of it!" The little girl beamed, her eyes crinkling into happy slits.

"I’m glad you like them. I’ll buy you more in the future." Qin Mei grew even fonder of the little girl. ’As long as she likes something, I’d move mountains of gold and silver to give it to her.’

The little girl’s head drooped, her expression suddenly unhappy.

"What’s wrong?" Qin Mei was baffled. ’What did I say to make her upset?’ She looked toward Jie Jingchen for an answer.

Jie Jingchen shook his head and ruffled the little girl’s hair. "Xiao Duo, why the long face all of a sudden?"

"Fourth Auntie, I don’t want you to go so far away," the little girl said, looking up at Qin Mei with a pitiful expression.

Qin Mei froze for a second before it dawned on her: the little girl didn’t want her to leave. A warmth spread through her heart. She lifted the child onto her lap and stroked her cheek. "I have friends in Xiangjiang. I can ask them to buy things and mail them to me, and then I can give them to you."

"Really?" The little girl’s eyes lit up, her mood changing in an instant. Qin Mei mused, ’Girls really are fickle. There’s no age limit.’

"Of course it’s true. And if you’d like, I can take you to Xiangjiang sometime. It’s so much fun there, sweetheart," Qin Mei said with a flourish, painting a big, round pie in the sky for Xiao Duo.